More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow – Review and Giveaway

**Update – This contest is now closed. Please scroll down to the bottom of the post for the winner. Thanks to all of you that participated. What a record turn out!**

When I grew up in the 70s, I vaguely remember having a crockpot in our house.

Then, the 80s came along and crockpots were soooooooooooooo, antiquated hippiedom. I mean oh-my-gawd, gag me with a spoon, ewwwwwwww. It was so old-fashioned, so not-processed-food, so cheap.

Which is exactly why I LOVE my crockpot today. It is so old-fashioned, so not-processed-food, so cheap. It is great to throw a bunch of ingredients in a big pot, walk away, and come back hours later to a scrumptious meal.

I am a busy mom. Get up in the morning, get my kid ready and off to school, get an elliptical workout in so I can be healthy, get working (I’m lucky enough to be able to work at home), make breakfast at some point, do the laundry while calling the repair guy, while feeding the cat, while balancing on stool to get the thing I put on the shelf so my toddler wouldn’t break it. Break the thing as I try to get down from the stool…

Is any of this sounding familiar?

Oh, and at some point during this everyday melee, I am supposed to get a healthy, nutritious, well-balanced dinner ready for my family. No wonder people just grab take-out or delivery.

That is where my crockpot/slow cooker comes in. I love this thing. And, I am not the only one. My friend, Stephanie O’Dea also loves her slow cooker.

Oh, and did I mention she wrote a book? A cookbook, actually? Two cookbooks, actually? Slow cooker cookbooks, actually? And, I’m reviewing the latest book. (I will review the first book at a later date. I need to make some stuff from it first.) And, I am giving one away to one of you.

I like this book so much that I want to support my friend and get this book into one of your hands. (That sentence is oh-so-awkward, but I think you understand what I mean.) I downloaded the kindle version, but I have a paperback version to give to one of you beautiful people. Who wants it?

But, before we get to that, let’s do the review.

AWESOME!

Does that help?

OK. How about a little more detail?

First, Stephanie organizes this book with some helpful tips up front. Then it moves on into sections of recipes by cost: $7, $10, and $15. That means there is an entire section of meals to feed a family of four for under $7. Not just wussy appetizers or drinks. Entire meals!

Don’t get me wrong. She gives recipes for drinks and appetizers, but they are not wussy. And the meals have a lot of substance to them. They are healthy, easy meals for a family on a budget. And, aren’t we all these days?

Then, she moves on to under $10 and under $15. The quality/quantity of meat goes up, etc.

Indian Spiced Lentils with Chicken

I earmarked about a million recipes to try, but the one I have gotten to so far is the Indian Spiced Lentils with Chicken. She says it serves 4. Maybe if they are 7 foot tall lumberjacks who hadn’t eaten in a week. We had two meals and still have leftovers. This one is from the $10 and under section. With chicken! I have just fed my family a healthy, filling, great tasting dinner for less than $5/day for ALL of us.

Thank you, Stephanie!

And, next up we are trying Carnitas. I love carnitas, and now have an inexpensive way to make them at home. And I know every ingredient in them. I like that, too.

So, back to the giveaway. It’s easy. I am giving away a copy of this fantastic book to one you beautiful readers. Just leave a comment below telling me which one of Stephanie’s recipes on her blog, A Year of Slow Cooking, that you would like to try for yourself.

Of course, there are the usual ways to get extra entries.

~Post about this giveaway on your blog and/or share it on Facebook. Leave a separate comment here saying that you did.

~Tweet about this giveaway using @GlugleGFree and @stephanieodea. Leave a separate comment here saying that you did.

While looking on Amazon, I found one so-so review of Stephanie’s book. After making one of her recipes, I have a feeling the reviewer is like our family. We love spicy. I mean, the Little Man, who is not even 2 1/2 yet, has to have Chipotle Tabasco on his eggs, or he won’t eat them. Seriously! I have a feeling Stephanie toned the recipes down for the average taste buds. So, if you like spicy like we do, just double the spice/herb measurements. That’s what I did and it was perfect. (Found out from watching the video, it’s because Stephanie has three young children, so she keeps it low on the spicy. She says to season to taste.)

**Update – The contest is now closed. Please scroll to the bottom for the winner. The giveaway for the More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow Cookbook ends January 20th, at midnight, PST. I will email the winner, and you will have 48 hours to get back to me. After which, if I have not heard back from you, another winner will be drawn.

If you missed Stephanie on Good Morning America, I found the video for you to watch. Yay, Stephanie!

@stephanieodea

PS – **Update** This contest is now closed. Thank you to all of those that participated. The winner is fatlazyceliac! (Chosen by using random.org. I did not count my comments in the numbering.) Congratulations, fatlazyceliac! I will be emailing you shortly for your address so you can receive your More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow Cookbook.**

Thank you. I thought the notes were important since it seemed that the (very few) non-favorable reviews made comments that could easily be remedied. She did say in her book and on the show to season to taste. And once you do, they are perfect. Plus, there are recipes for things I didn’t even think of making in the slow cooker. I made carnitas the other day. I would have thought of that without her book. I am blabbing on now, so I will shut up and move on.

I have Coeliac Disease and was absolutely THRILLED to find the Crockpot 365 blog! GF BREAD IN A CROCKPOT?!?!?!?!?! SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?! WOW!!!!!!!! I cannot wait to try it! I am already a HUGE fan of the GF Crockpot Cheesecake! DELISH!

I would like to try the acorn squash (never considered making it in a slow-cooker before), making my own beans instead of buying canned, and the mongolian beef recipe sounded wonderful, not to mention the baked brie recipes….shall I go on?!

I have her awesome book, so don’t enter me. Just stopping by to say what a great job you did with the review and that you made me add two more recipes to my must try list. Stephanie was so good this morning on GMA. So proud and pleased that she got to mention gluten free too.

I love how she slipped that in there. I know they are strapped for time and try to fit so much in, but I think it is a good point to bring up. And, she was so cute. She really is a natural on tv. Even with how they were rushing her, she stayed on track and kept calm.

Oh, and thank you. We made the carnitas and will be making both recipes again.

Great review – I think you’ve convinced me to buy it if I don’t win it somewhere! I had read that so-so review, as well, and decided that the book was probably not for me, but now I’m thinking otherwise. And I’d like to make the dish that you did!

I am wondering how that is going to work out. If they are going to be cautious about cross contamination or not. Or, if they are just doing it to get the market segment and don’t realize the necessity for some people. It would be so wonderful if they were good with it. I hope so.

Wow is all I can say,I have two little girls 5 & 1yrs old that have the gluten intolerance. Big shock to me since I had no clue what to do,and to top it off my husband was training to deploy. I felt so alone, I’ve learned the rules cleaned out my cupboards & have been cooking gluten free meals since Emily was 3yrs old (pre-baby). I am at a burn out point since the littlest one is eating more foods but is picky too. I am super excited to try these slow cooker recipes! It helps greatly since I also work part time 3rd shift, plus I have two slow cookers & I can do a few trial runs at once. Again I am so happy to have found this web site & books!!

I have some black eyed peas in my cabinet I’ve been meaning to make for several weeks, but I haven’t been sure quite how to “dress them up.” Stephanie’s Crockpot Black Eyed Pea Soup looks like exactly what I would like to try.